Page 36 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“Now you’re all mine. And just think…” He rubbed the skin of my wrist where the symbol of his love sparkled. “We still have to pick out wedding rings.”

Episode 69

Rallying the Troops

JACK

I put TJ into his toddler bed. He instantly curled on his side as I covered him with the blanket, tucked him in, then I leaned down and kissed the side of his head. “I love you,” I whispered, my soul breaking into a million pieces. This boy had no idea how much he’d lost in his young life. Losing his father before he was even born, and now his mother at two and a half? It was aberrant and gutted me wide open.

“He asleep?” I heard whispered from behind me.

I turned to find Summer, the hallway light a golden halo around her beautiful form, making her look like a true goddess.

“Yeah.” I ran my hand over his hair once more, then clicked on the nightlight and shut the door.

Summer leaned against the opposite wall. “How are you doing?”

I shook my head. “I’ve never felt so lost and helpless,” I admitted.

Summer opened her arms, and I went straight into them, tucking my face against her neck and holding her tight. “I can’t believe this happened. We just talked to her. She was coming to our wedding next week. I…” My voice caught in my throat.

“It’s absolutely messed up, but I’m here. For you, for TJ, for whatever you need.” She ran her hands up and down my head and back in soothing strokes that relaxed me further against her.

“I’m so tired but I want to be ready when Erik and Savannah get here,” I sighed.

“The Johansen’s said they are still several hours out. Something about flight delays at Heathrow. You need rest. If not for you, then for TJ. That little boy is going to need you when he wakes and finds his mother not h-here.” Her voice cracked and I watched as she cleared her throat, stiffened her shoulders, and stood taller, becoming strong and capable right before my eyes.

I cupped her cheeks, dipped my head and kissed her soft lips. “Thank you,” I whispered against them then gave her another peck. “Thank you for being here. For letting me lean on you. I don’t know what I would have done without you by my side through this,” I croaked, my voice sounding as though my throat had been put through a cheese grater.

Summer pressed her body flat against mine, wrapped her arms around my shoulders and held on. “Whatever you need, I’m here to give it to you. Lean on me. Anytime…every time,” she murmured, and I clung to every breath that left her lips. “That’s what couples do. What families do, Jack. And you and me, and TJ, we’re about to become a family.”

I pulled back and looked deeply into her soulful eyes. They were filled with concern and such understanding I was stunned. Genuinely astonished. She didn’t need to deal with any of this. We weren’t married yet. There was nothing but a contract that I could have voided with one call. That was the entire reason there is a month before the couples are required to get married. In case one or both of them just don’t believe it’s a good fit. I certainly wanted to marry Summer. More than anything I’d wanted in a long, long time.

I didn’t care about her family’s spiritual beliefs or our differences. I cared about her. Not only did we have sexual chemistry in spades, but I liked being around her. She was unlike anyone I’d ever met. She was kind, beautiful, sassy asthe day is long, free spirited, and smiled more than she ever frowned. The freedom to be open and honest, to let go and just be me around her and her family, had been an eye-opening experience. One I’d cherish and learn from moving forward. But signing up to marry a man with no children for a period of three years is entirely different than marrying a man who’s suddenly in charge of raising a child.

“Summer, I couldn’t ask you to do that. Losing Ellen changes everything.” I slumped against the opposite wall. “You should run far away from all of this. You don’t need the money. I can help you with your business as a mentor regardless of whether or not we get married. You signed on the dotted line to become my wife, not a mother to an orphaned child.” I shook my head and rubbed at the back of my neck, the tension increasing as I processed the future.

“Jack, nothing has changed outside of growing our little family from two to three. I love kids. I wouldn’t mind having a whole bunch of them. I’m already half in love with TJ after a single night. And you and I were heading somewhere beautiful in our relationship. That doesn’t have to change because of TJ.”

“But it does. He needs a real family. Parents that put him above themselves. I didn’t have that as a kid, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him grow up without feeling loved and protected.”

She raked her fingers through her hair then shrugged. “I’m not letting you go. Either of you. I want it all. You and TJ.”

I bent in half as her words hit my stomach like a sucker punch to the gut. “You can’t mean that. You’ve had all of five seconds to truly understand the severity of this situation. I live for TJ now.”

“So that means you have no room in your heart or your life for me?” she breathed, her eyes filling with tears.

I shook my head. “No. I was already falling for you. Every day we’re together feels like the best day of my life…until today.”

She crossed the hallway and took my hands. “We can still have each other and give TJ the best life.”

I let out a long breath. “I don’t know what to do or what to think.”

“First and foremost, you don’t have to decide anything tonight. You’ve been through hell. You need rest.” She led me to the guest room I used at Ellen’s.

And that’s when the nightmare became real. Ellen.

“She’s gone,” I sobbed as we entered the room and I braced myself at the end of the bed, hunched over as the pain tore through my entire body.

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